“The petitioners failed today to prove that they’ve been harmed by importers and they are not entitled to any special protections under our trade laws. Domestic producers gained market share between 2007 and 2009 and during that time we lost our largest U.S. customer, Unisource, to NewPage. NewPage lured them away with lower prices made possible by the enormous federal ‘black liquor’ subsidies they received.

“Duties in this case will cost, not save, American jobs. That goes against the spirit and intent of our trade laws. We have heard from hundreds of American printers who fear losing jobs and business to offshore printers, if duties are imposed. The number of printer jobs threatened is far higher than the 280 jobs the ITC staff investigation says the domestic coated paper sheet industry lost between 2007 and 2009.

“What we’re seeing here are hedge fund managers, who have taken over the American paper industry, looking for another government bailout through the ITC. America’s small businesses and taxpayers are tired of bailouts and our trade law system cannot be used to address poor management and bad investment decisions by domestic manufacturers.

“I am confident that the ITC will issue a fair ruling based on the facts and conclude that the domestic industry has not been harmed by imported coated sheets. Our goal is to get back to the business of providing our American customers with the quality products and service they expect from us.”

—Terry Hunley

Asia Pulp & Paper also released a summary of its position on the matter:

Summary of Argument before the United States International Trade Commission in the matter of certain coated paper suitable for high-quality print graphics using sheet-fed presses from China and Indonesia